Rep. Benjamin S. Rosenthal of New York has been named to two of the most important positions in the leadership of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.’ Rep. Henry Waxman of California also has been signally honored by his colleagues in the leadership hierarchy.
Rosenthal, who is entering his ninth term in Congress, was appointed by Majority Leader Jim Wright of Texas to be one of three deputy whips. Speaker Thomas O’Neill of Massachusetts appointed him as one of the 24 members of the Democratic steering and policy committee, the most important leadership body in the House.
Rosenthal was one of eight Congressmen selected by O’Neill. Waxman, who comes from Los Angeles and is entering his second term, was chosen to represent California’s Democrats on the committee as a regional member. There are 12 regional members on the committee. New York’s delegation re-elected Jonathan Bingham of New York City as their committeeman.
California, which has 29 Democrats in its House delegation of 43 members and New York which numbers 28 in its list of 39 are ranked as “regions” in the committee selection.
California Democrats were unanimous in selecting Waxman and New York backed Bingham without dissent. The New York delegation also voted unanimously that Rosenthal receive a high leadership post. Rosenthal is considered the chief spokesman in the House for the nation’s consumers as chairman of the commerce, consumer and monetary affairs subcommittee of the Government Operations Committee. Rosenthal is 53 years old and Waxman is 37.
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